Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Justice
Headline: Establishes Department of Justice succession order for Attorney General
What it does: The order directs officials in the Department of Justice to follow a specified order of succession for acting Attorney General.
- Designates four U.S. Attorneys to serve as acting Attorney General in sequence.
- Bars officials already serving in an acting capacity from ascending under this order.
- Allows the President to select a different acting Attorney General when legally permitted.
Summary
This order names who will serve as acting Attorney General if the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, Associate Attorney General, and any officers designated to act are unable to serve: the U.S. Attorneys for the Southern District of New York, District of Arizona, Northern District of Illinois, and District of Hawaii.
It excludes people already serving in those jobs in an acting capacity, requires eligibility under the Vacancies Act, and lets the President pick a different acting Attorney General when the law allows.
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